Tuning peg for stringed instruments



INVENTORS U fiherman fiver- 7.

U. 55, AVE??? TUNING PEG FOR STRINGED msTmgj-mmls Filed Jul-51 26, 1,922

April 26, 1927.

I a l w W m M w ,L ML

Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED STATES T OFFIQE.

Parts A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

or, nnennny BEACH, in or nnw roux, N. Y.,

TUNING PEG FOR .STRIN'GEIJ INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed July 26,

Our invention relates to pens for stringed instruments. and moreparticularly to means for control and inaii'itenance of the tension ofthe strings thereof. and has for an object to produce a device of theclass described more economically and of improved elliciency.

Having reference to the drawings illustrative of a preferred embodimentof my im proved peg or key, F igure 1. is an elevation of a familiartype of the stringed musics. instruments to which our improved pegrelates;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of the arm of the instrument shown inFig. 1 with key in position;

Fig. 3 is a like sectional view of key with modified parts andconnections;

Fig. 4t is a cross section on line llof Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 is aperspective view of a disassembled part.

Referring; to the drawings. the numeral 1. represents an ordinary banjoin connection with which. our improvement is illustrated having the head2 in which are suitably arranged the pe s 5 of our improved structure.Upon the instrument are mounted in the usual manner the con'iplement ofstrings 3 attached at their outer ends to the tuning); peas 5. The peg 5has a shaft 6 with a shouldered. head or drum portion 7 prefen ably madeintegral therewith through which is the hole t transversely disposed forthe purpose of receiving;- and securing the end of a catu'ut 3. The keyshaft or shank (i has at its opposite end a thumb piece 8 having acentral orifice longitudinally thereof llil'Olltll'l which extends anend of the shaft 6. lnto a threaded orifice at the and of the shaft (3adapted to tit the screw 10 upon which the washer 9 adapted. to hold thethumb piece 8 upon the shaft 6. To hold the thumb piece 8 againstrotatable movement on the shaft the shoe 530. shown in perspective inFig.1. 5. is hollowed out to receive therein. the bottom of the thumbpiece through which the shaft. 6 is introduced. the thumb piece 8 being:firmly seated within the curved bottom 2'] of the shoe.

An orifice E22 centrally disposed in the circular wall of the shoe hasparallel sides 23 which engage correspondingly flattened sides 11. ofthe shaft 6 which exactly fits Serial No. 577,853.

into the hole 22 therein (see l ies. 4; and 5). The thuu'ih piece 8 isheld firmly seated in the hole of the shoe piece 20.

The shoe piece 520 has a further function in addition to that ofsecuring: the thumb piece 8 to the shaft 6. in that .it presents africtional surface to the head member 2 to hold the key in the positioninto which it has been drawn by thui'nb action. But instead of havingthe outer face 21 of the shoe 20 rest directly upon the surface of thehead 2. an additional member ilO'is interposed which in the prei'i'erredform shown in Fig.1. 2 a raised member, being secured to the head 2 bymeans of screws or pin 82 through the flattened extensions 31. This samemember however can be replaced by an ordinary washer such as shown at ofthe modified form shown in 3. However. the member 30 in the form shownsupplies the addition al ad 'anta of providing: reater lenqtl'i ofbearing for the shaft 6. and I accord: .ely employ the latter form forthe manifold purposes explained.

The frictional contact between the under surface 21 of the shoe cup 20,on the one hand. and, the top face of the piece 30 or 30*. on the other.is rendered more serviceable by havinc; one of the members made of brassbronze while the other with which it comes into frictional contact ismade of steel. or iron. Thus. in the preferred form I employ the shoepieces of brass and the washer 80 (or 30 of steel.

3y means of the screw 10 any desired frictional contact pressure betweenthe surface 2t of the shoe piece 20 and on the member 30 may beol'itained. Finch frictional adjust ment having been secured. the thumbpiece by rotation upon its axis will. draw a catg'utor other stringmember 3 to any desired tension and the adjustment 10 made sufficientlytense to hold the key in the position where it is thus drawn.

The frictional retaining; parts as above described are found to workmore satisfactorily by introducing;- beneath the pieces 30 and 30 awasher 532. preferably of some slightly yielding; material such asleather of suitable type. as shown in l ieg. .2. Thus the washers ofbrass or steel. as the case may be, will present more even surface tothe wall. 21 of the shoe piece 20.

The string attached to the drum 7 as has already been pointed out bypassing through the transverse orifice t. and may be secured fromwithdrawal by the simple means of a knot at the end. Preferably thestring is suihciently long to require at least one complete rotation ofthe drum 7 and thereafter by continuous pressure upon the thumb piece inthe direction of winding farther on to the head the string may be drawnto the required tension and by reason of the screw adjustment 10 havingbeen predetermined to hold the ke against return motion, the propertautness may be indefinitely maintained.

Vi e claim:

1. In a stringed musical instrument having a frame with a pegftpQi'tlllG, a tuning peg passing through the aperture and having ashoulder to limitendwise movement of the peg in the aperture in onedirection, a transverselji' recesseo shoe slidahly and nonrotataltilvcarried by the peg outside of the aperture, said peg having head fittingin the recessed portion of the shoe and adjustable along the peg. and ametal friction member disposed around the peg secured to the frameadjacent the shoe.

In a stringed musical instrument, having a frame with a peg aperture. atuning peg passing through the aperture and having a shoulder to limitendwise movement of the peg in the aperture in one direction a recessedshoe slidablv and non-rotatably car ried by the peg outside of theaperure. said peg having a head fittingin the recess of the shoe andadjustable along the peg shank, a rather of a slightly resilientnon-metallic material between the shoe and the frame. and a metalfriction member disposed around the peg shank between the washer and theshoe.

3. In a stringed musical instrument. a string adjusting peg having ashoulder ad jacent one end for limiting movement of the peg endwise ofitself in the frame of the instrument. a thumb piece rotatable andslidablc upon me other end of the peg, a shoe slida 'ile andnon-rotatable upon the peg and having concavit in which the thumb pieceis disposed, a friction member on the peg between the shoe and the frameof the instrument, and means for holding the thumb piece on the peg insaid concavity and for adjusting the thumb piece and shoe toward thefriction member to vary the friction between the shoe and member whichholds the peg in adjusted angular positions.

1;. In a stringed musical intsruinent. a string aitljusting pcg having ashoulder adj cc t one end for limiting movement of the cndwisc 1-fitself in the frame of the instrument. a thumb piece rotatable and slidable upon the other end of the peg. a shoe and non-rotatable upon me pegand having a concai'iti' in which the thumb piece is disporteii. aiiiction member on the peg between the shoe and the frame of theinstrument niieans for holding the thumb piece n the peg in saidconcavity and for adjusting the thiuub piece and shoe toward thefriction member to vary the friction between the shoe and member whichholds the peg in flCljllStlCt angular positions, and a washer on me pegbetween the friction memher and the fran'ie of the instrument.

5. In a tuning peg for musical instruments having a shaft adapted to besupported in an aperture in the head of the instrument. said shafthaving a shoulder to limit endwise movement thereof in the aperture inone direction, and having throughout a portion of its length a flattenedsurface, a thumb piece rotatablv mounted on said sha ft an interponentmember slidably supported on said shaft and having an aperture with aflattened sit e adapted to engage the correspondingl flattened surfaceof the shaft. a transverselr disposed recess in the interponent memberinto which the thumb piece is adapted to seat and means for securingsaid thun'ib piece in said recess.

(3. In a tuning peg for musical instruments having a shaft adapted to besupported in an aperture in the head of the instrument. said shafthaving a shoulder to limit eudwise movement thereof in the aper ture inone di ection, and having throughout a port-ion of its length aflattened surface. a thumb piece rotatablv mounted on said shaft. aninterpoiieut member slidably supported on said shaft and having anaperture with a flattened side adapted to engage the correrniondinglvflattened. surface of the shaft. means for holding said thumb pieceagainst rotation relatively to said interponent member said meanscomprising a trausvcrsel oisposed recess in one of said elements. andsecuring the other of said ele ments in said recess.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands.

able U SHERMAN AVERY. ALBERT K. TROUT.

